American to open Flagship Lounge, new Admirals Club in Philly next year
American Airlines is planning to open two new lounges — including a more upscale Flagship Lounge — at one of its major East Coast hubs.
Sometime next year, American will unveil both an Admirals Club and a Flagship Lounge at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), the Fort Worth-based carrier revealed Friday.
The announcement figures to be a win for travelers navigating the airport, which is a busy connecting hub for American that includes a number of transatlantic flights.
New lounge details
So far, details about the two new Philly lounges are pretty limited. They'll both be located in the A-West terminal, a spokesperson said Friday.
And, the lounges will boast the warmer ambience — complete with fireplaces — that we've seen in some of the newer clubs American has unveiled.
The rendering American shared, above, is the only image released so far.
However, here's a look at one of the newer Admirals Club in its portfolio, which opened last fall at Denver International Airport (DEN) and has the newer aesthetic American has been using in its new and renovated lounges.
"The opening of the new Flagship Lounge and Admirals Club lounge will continue to create a harmonized design experience across all newly opened lounges that customers will instantly recognize," American said in a statement Friday.
Bolstering Philly lounge options
American already operates several lounges at its Philly hub, but its lack of a Flagship Lounge has been, until now, something of a hole in its network — particularly considering the transatlantic schedule the carrier boasts out of Philadelphia, as shown in the below map from aviation analytics firm Cirium.
American currently has Flagship Lounges at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Miami International Airport (MIA).
There's technically no Flagship Lounge at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), but the Chelsea Lounge that American shares with joint-venture partner British Airways essentially functions like one.
More upscale than standard Admirals Clubs, Flagship Lounges have more robust food options and other high-end touches like specialty cocktail bars and a premium wine table.
You can gain access to a Flagship Lounge by flying with a Flagship First ticket, or a Flagship Business ticket on certain flights — generally international or a few key transcontinental routes (often flights operated by the Boeing 777-300ER or Airbus A321T).
Those with high-level elite status can also access the lounge on eligible flights.
American currently operates four Philly Admirals Clubs, including one in A-West — the terminal where these two new lounges will be constructed.
Looking ahead
When asked by TPG, a spokesperson could not offer a more specific timeline on when these two new lounges might open — just that they are expected in 2025.
An annual Admirals Club membership starts at $850 for a first-time, non-elite member, but there are discounts for AAdvantage elite members and members renewing.
Lounge access also can be attained with American's high-end cobranded credit card, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees), which carries a $595 annual fee.
Related reading:
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees